Great Southern Land Nocturnal - 2026 1oz Silver Proof Matrix Opal Coin

The term "Great Southern Land" refers to the majestic continent situated in the Southern Hemisphere, known today as Australia, home to more than 600,000 species of wildlife, many of which are endemic to the island nation. This diversity and the uniqueness of the country’s fauna continue to captivate the world. Some creatures have become national icons, while many less recognised and often unseen species take refuge during the daylight to awaken after dark.            

To celebrate the wonderous nocturnal species of Australia, the coin’s reverse depicts (clockwise from the top) a crescent moon and stars, an Australian Tiger Moth, a Night Jar Owl, an Australian Christmas Beetle, a Marbled Gecko, a Spotted Quoll, a Night Parrot, a Lead Beater Possum, a Koala and a Ghost Bat. Also in the design are illustrations of Australian flora, along with The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark and the coin’s weight, purity, and 2026 year-date.                                

The reverse design encircles an inlay crafted from matrix opal in the shape of Australia. A natural gemstone of the land, the opal is admired for its depth of appearance and iridescent colours which reveal themselves in the light, and more brilliantly when polished. Given that opals form in various parts of the country and in varying conditions, each stone displays its own unique pattern and colour combination. The obverse depicts the Dan Thorne effigy of His Majesty King Charles III, and the monetary denomination.